Top cellar doors to visit in Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills - home of world-class, cool-climate deliciousness made by some of the nations most renowned and awarded winemakers. What’s not to love about that? Marry it with stunning scenery and a vibrant food scene, and it’s no surprise it’s a mofo favourite - here’s the cellar doors we hit up when we’re there.
Ashton Hills
Ashton Hills was founded by regional wine pioneer Stephen George in 1982, and represents the culmination of years dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect clonal selection for the soils here. And it shows in the wines, with highly awarded pinot noir and chardonnay dripping with Halliday & Real Review points vintage after vintage, along with riesling. Now owned by the Wirra Wirra winery (much to the delight of Huon Hooke - “It’s like hearing that two of your best friends are hitching up: they could only have beautiful kids, no?”) there’s lots to love and savour here.
126 Tregarthen Road, Summertown, SA Australia, 5137. Open Friday - Monday, bookings required.
Hahndorf Hill
Located a stone’s throw from the German-heritage village of Hahndorf (worth a trip in itself, if you’ve never been), Hahndorf Hill pioneered the Austrian varietals of grüner veltliner, blaufrankisch, zweigelt and St Laurent. Their cellar door offers a chance to see why these do so well in the region, in the best possible way - by taking a seated flight through their latest vintages. Pair it with a cheese platter and embark on an Austrian-inspired odyssey.
38 Pain Road, Hahndorf, South Australia 5245. Open Monday - Saturday.
K1 By Geoff Hardy
Descended from South Australia winemaking royalty (a little guy named Thomas Hardy), Geoff Hardy founded K1 in 1986, and his daughter Bec Hardy cut her teeth here before founding her eponymous winery in McLaren Vale. K1 is a five-star red Halliday-rated winery, and you’ll immediately see why when you pull up to their Lakehouse cellar door, a stunning lodge that’s right on the waterfront, with tastings of the range available either out on deck or nestled inside their tasting room. Platters are available to pair, and they’re dog friendly too if your pooch wants to come along for the ride.
159 Tynan Road, Kuitpo, SA 5172. Open 7 days.
The Lane Vineyard
Nestled amidst their vineyard, The Lane’s cellar door offers personal tastings, paired dining experiences and a few more zany premium experiences (see you on the Lions, Wines and Helicopters tour). There’s some pretty stunning panoramic views too, with a range of tastings available. The restaurant on site highlights regional and seasonal specialties, with the menu focus rotating depending on the day of the week you’re visiting.
Peramangk Country, 5 Ravenswood Lane, Hahndorf SA 5245. Open 7 days, bookings essential.
Petaluma
Founded in 1976, Petaluma source the finest fruit for their wines from specially selected sites in the Adelaide Hills & Mt Barker. Their cellar door is housed in a converted farmstead, resplendent with a deck that overlooks the majestic Hills - perfect to take in with your favourite glass after sampling a flight. Grazing platters heroing local producers are available to pair, and dogs are welcome too. A great option to kick back and unwind.
254 Pfeiffer Road, Woodside, South Australia 5244, open 7 days.
Penfolds Magill Estate
If you’re looking for your Adelaide Hill’s experience to be something extra special, it doesn’t get much grander than this - Penfolds Magill Estate was named one of the world’s top 50 vineyards, after all. Only 8km from the Adelaide CBD, Magill Estate was Penfolds first ever vineyard, and offers elevated tasting experiences of their premium collection alongside paired menus. Alongside premium tasting and dining options, there’s also tours of the site available so you can experience the history of how the world fell in love with these wines. Trust us when we say there’s something for all wine lovers here.
78 Penfold Rd, Magill SA 5072. Open 7 days, bookings required.
Pike & Joyce
A brand that unites winemaking royalty, Pike & Joyce is a partnership between the Clare Valley Pike family (you might have sampled their stunning riesling or shiraz), and the Adelaide Hill’s based Joyces. The focus is very much on what they both do so well - cool climate whites, reds and sparkling, with grüner veltliner and gewurztraminer notably stealing a march here. Taste at their cellar door overlooking the spectacular Onkaparinga Valley, and if you’re hungry you’re in luck - there’s a Chef’s Hatted Restaurant here too, which was awarded reader’s choice by the Australian Good Food Guide.
730 Mawson Road, Lenswood SA 5240. Open 7 days.
Shaw + Smith
Founded by cousins Michael Hill Smith MW (Australia’s first MW) and Martin Shaw, the cellar door at Shaw + Smith took out the Gourmet Traveller Award for Best Tasting Experience in 2022. Do we need to say much more? Sample one of three flights on offer alongside their paired cold larder menu - but if you’re looking to go behind the scenes, there’s also tours of their Balhannah vineyard and working winery on offer too.
136 Jones Rd, Balhannah, SA. Open 7 days, bookings required.
ps. make sure to check the winery websites we've linked above for up-to-date info on openings and bookings, especially around the holidays.